Leviticus 6 16

Leviticus 6:16 kjv

And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.

Leviticus 6:16 nkjv

And the remainder of it Aaron and his sons shall eat; with unleavened bread it shall be eaten in a holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of meeting they shall eat it.

Leviticus 6:16 niv

Aaron and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.

Leviticus 6:16 esv

And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place. In the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.

Leviticus 6:16 nlt

Aaron and his sons may eat the rest of the flour, but it must be baked without yeast and eaten in a sacred place within the courtyard of the Tabernacle.

Leviticus 6 verses

Leviticus 6 16 Meaning

Leviticus 6:16 prescribes regulations for the grain offering, specifically detailing the portion that remains after the memorial part is burned to the Lord. This remainder is consecrated for the high priest Aaron and his sons, indicating their right to partake of the sacred provisions as part of their service. The command emphasizes that this portion must be eaten without leaven and strictly within a holy area, namely the court of the tent of meeting, highlighting the offering's extreme holiness and the required ritual purity for its consumption by the priesthood.

Leviticus 6 16 Context

Leviticus 6 (chapters 6-7 in Hebrew Bible cover priestly laws) specifies the proper procedures for presenting and handling various offerings. This particular verse focuses on the grain offering (Hebrew: minchah), which primarily consisted of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense, representing devotion, praise, and thanksgiving to God. While a memorial portion of the offering was burnt on the altar, the remaining part served as provision for Aaron and his male descendants, who were ordained priests. This portion was considered "most holy" (qodesh qodeshim), signifying its deep sanctity and restricting its consumption to a consecrated location and only to the authorized priests. This divine provision ensured the material support for the priests, enabling them to devote themselves entirely to their sacred duties in the tabernacle without needing to work for their livelihood.

Word Analysis

• And what is left of it (וְהַנּוֹתֶרֶת מִמֶּנָּה - vehanotereṯ mimennah):

  • vehanotereṯ (left/remainder): Refers to the portion of the grain offering that was not burned on the altar as a memorial to God (Lev 2:2, 9). This demonstrates that not all of the offering was consumed by fire; a specific portion was designated for human consumption, but by God's chosen priests. It signifies God's shared blessing and the tangible connection between worship and provision for His servants.
  • mimennah (of it): Points back to the specific "grain offering" previously discussed in verses 14 and 15, confirming the immediate context of the instruction.

• Aaron and his sons (אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו - Aharon u'banav):

  • Specifically limits consumption to the male priests, direct descendants of Aaron. This underscores the exclusive nature of the Aaronic priesthood and their unique role as mediators between God and Israel, set apart to handle holy things. It excludes laypersons and female family members. This strict delineation ensures ritual purity and proper respect for God's holiness.

• shall eat (יֹאכֵלוּ - yochlu):

  • A direct command. Eating this portion was not optional but a divine instruction and a sacred duty for the priests. It also emphasizes their sustenance derived directly from their service to God, reflecting a spiritual economy where God provides for those who serve Him faithfully (1 Cor 9:13).

• it shall be eaten without leaven (מַצּוֹת תֵּאָכֵל - matzot te'achel):

  • matzot (unleavened): Denotes flat, unfermented bread. Leaven (chametz) in offerings typically symbolizes corruption, sin, or fermentation/decay, and was generally forbidden in sacrifices presented to God on the altar (Lev 2:11, Exod 12:8). Eating it unleavened signifies purity, haste, and adherence to divine instruction without human addition or corruption, mirroring the unleavened bread of Passover, commemorating swift liberation. The offering must remain undefiled, even in its consumption by priests.
  • te'achel (shall be eaten): Passive verb, emphasizing the divine decree for its consumption in this specific manner.

• in a holy place (בְּמָקוֹם קָדֹשׁ - be'maqom qadosh):

  • maqom qadosh (holy place): This specifies the consecrated area where sacred food could be consumed. It highlights the offering's extreme holiness and ensures that the act of eating is treated with appropriate reverence, separate from common activities or locations. This term emphasizes the sanctuary's unique status as God's dwelling place.

• in the court of the tent of meeting (בַּחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - bachatzar ohel mo'ed):

  • bachatzar (in the court): Designates the specific outer enclosure of the Tabernacle, the sacred courtyard, accessible to priests for their service but still distinct from the "Most Holy Place." This indicates that while highly holy, it could be eaten in an accessible sacred space, not necessarily inside the tabernacle building itself, making it practical for the priests.
  • ohel mo'ed (tent of meeting): The Tabernacle, the central place of worship where God met with Israel. This precisely defines the boundary of the "holy place" for this specific purpose, underscoring the ordered and meticulous nature of tabernacle service.

• they shall eat it (יֹאכְלֻהָ - yochluha):

  • Reiterates the command from earlier in the verse, reinforcing the divine mandate for this action and adding finality to the instruction. This redundancy emphasizes the seriousness and obligation of the requirement for the priests.

Leviticus 6 16 Commentary

Leviticus 6:16 is a critical instruction emphasizing the profound sanctity of offerings presented to Yahweh and the unique position of the Aaronic priesthood. The grain offering, an expression of devotion and thanksgiving, yielded a holy portion for the priests, signifying God's direct provision for those dedicated to His service. The command to eat it "without leaven" connects the daily sustenance of the priests to the foundational redemptive act of the Exodus and the purity it signified, reminding them that their livelihood, and indeed their very being, was set apart for a holy God, devoid of the leaven of sin or corruption. The strict requirement to consume it "in a holy place" within the Tabernacle's court underlines the sacred boundary between the common and the holy, instructing the priests on the gravity of their communion with God through these sacred provisions. This not only ensured ritual purity but also impressed upon the priests the necessity of holiness in their personal lives and ministerial practice, as they handled what was "most holy." This provision for the priests prefigures how God sustains His servants and highlights that spiritual sustenance must be received in purity and reverence within His ordained worship context.

Bonus SectionThe "most holy" designation for the remaining grain offering is a recurring theme for certain offerings (sin offering, guilt offering). This status necessitates that it be consumed only by the priests, exclusively within the Tabernacle complex, highlighting its direct association with atonement and close communion with God. This practice served as a tangible daily reminder for the priests of their consecrated role and the weight of their duties, consuming physical food that carried spiritual significance, providing sustenance for both body and soul as they served a holy God. The precise spatial and ritual requirements also underline the covenant God's meticulous instructions for maintaining His holiness amidst a sinful people.